Marcia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aphrodite_mine) wrote2012-01-16 03:43 pm
aphrodite_mine) wrote2012-01-16 03:43 pm
(re) Introduction
In the process of (mostly) moving to Dreamwidth, I've accrued a lot of really cool friends/followers/whatever you call it on this site and I realize that I talk, frequently, about things that I assume everyone knows about but are possibly really insular. So...
The Primer ofaphrodite_mine
Part 1: "Real" Life
A) People of Interest:
My grandparents are: all dead. I didn't go to any of their funerals, because I was 1) two, 2/3) in school, and 4) I forget what excuse I used. They were okay people but I never really got to know them. My grandpa used to run American Greetings, and that's cool, right?
My parents are: divorced, and both remarried. My dad and his wife have a dog who hates me and the kind of life I want eventually, minus the horrible dog and the politics. My mom and her husband are... having troubles.
My siblings are: AMAZING. I'm the oldest, and there are three who come after me about two years apart. David works at a grocery store near my parents, is in Special Olympics, and has a total gross-out sense of humor. Stephen goes to college near me, is super popular, and has people skills up to here. Amanda is in her senior year of HS, works at Wal-mart, and is going to come to college near me in the fall.
My girlfriend is: ALSO AMAZING. She'smajesdane on here.
My friends are: see Derby Life and Fandom Life. Sadly not kidding. EDIT: I feel terrible, because in the original draft I forgot two of my best friends Laura and Damaris. I spend every Sunday and Tuesday with them (and now Fridays, because Fringe!). They're my adopted family and I couldn't make it without them.
My roommate is: moving in soon! She'sbeverytender on here.
B) Topics:
Gay!: I'm super gay, and I've known it since I was in 6th or 7th grade, tried to hide it until 12th, and didn't come out to my parents until junior year of college. I mostly date long distance, which sucks, but try living in Southeast Missouri and finding someone who isn't 1) taken, 2) deeply closeted, 3) looking for threesomes, or 4) a creepy bar leech
My job: boring, but functional. I'm a receptionist for an office-supply company and the building we rent out. I fill out paper work, answer phones, and am "the face of the company." I have about eight bosses, and most if not all of them are super conservative deer hunters. (The deer hunting having little to do with the conservatism but a lot to do with short-cutting their characterization for this primer.)
Mental Illness: I was diagnosed with depression a while after my parents divorced, and in the past three years anxiety. My mom and sister have had serious depressive issues, and my brother has Asperger's (and probably a little bi-polar), so I'm in good company.
Physical Illness: I feel kind of like a privileged asshole putting this here because come on, but. For the sake of completeness. I was diagnosed with epilepsy in college (I had seizures for about two years before I was diagnosed) and I guess I still have the label though I've been seizure-free off medication for over a year now. I also have a weird eye-thing that's mostly fixed with glasses.
My cats: I almost put this under People of Interest, but. My boys are super awesome, even though Roy has chronic dead eyes and sometimes creeps me out. Roy is The Most Affectionate Ginger Ever and has recently dug a nest for himself in my boxspring. I also have a fish with no personality so she gets no category. Her name is Helena.
Location: As I mentioned, I live in Southeast Missouri, not quite in the bootheel and currently about 20 minutes from the Mississippi (though I used to live quite close). The area is very conservative, though there are some pockets of decency. My current city, Jackson, for example, is home to the hs team the Indians (which is especially classy when considering the name of the town.) And despite all of this, I like it here. A lot. It's mostly quiet, a pretty tight-knit community that gets inundated every fall-thru-spring with college students, and a liberal-ish copse around the university and down town. And we're getting a casino! Hah!
Activism: I'm a feminist, a continuing student of literature and media, learning every day just how deep my privilege lies. I've written a few pieces for Bitch Flicks, and for now that's about the extent of putting myself out there. I honestly wouldn't even know where to start around here.
Part 2: Derby Life
A) People of Interest:
Me: Bobbie Soxxx (see below) and I started our local league (Cape Girardeau Roller Girls) in February 2010. My derby name is Sylvia Smash (that FB profile is public, so feel free to add), and I've since stepped down from a lot of the admin duties but still run our website, web presence (cgrollergirls on Twitter and CGRG: Cape Girardeau Roller Girls on Facebook) and league forum. I'm primarily a pivot/blocker 1 but have been amping up my game and trying to train to jam and power block.
My wife: I use this shorthand almost always when talking about my best friend Julie (Bobbie Soxxx). We met only a few months before starting the league and now I can't really imagine life without her. About a year ago, she tore her ACL, got it replaced with cadaver parts, and is now building her way up to being badass again. (She can leg press 100 lbs on JUST the bad leg!) She's President and head of PR for the league and is a power house of getting shit done.
My sister-wives: Me-Ya Wham and The Woman 2 Blame are my sisterwives on the team (wife, if you didn't know, is basically derby shorthand for bff, and since I'm already "married", I now have sister-wives!). MeYa is our head of Sponsorship and Woman is on Merch committee. MeYa used to play semi-professional soccer, has TWO replaced knees, and is amazing. Woman is super sweet and quiet but always comes through in a pinch.
The Board: We're close. On bout weeks, we exchange upwards of 80 emails a day, and normally no fewer than 5. A DAY. So yeah, not only do we practice and work out all the time, we donate a LOT of free time to keeping this league going. Which hasn't been (and isn't) always easy. Between dealing with the area, money issues, in-fighting, and countless other week-to-week issues... I think we've all been at our wits end at least once.
B) Topics
Fundraising: I may occasionally talk here about raising money for charity or for the league. I usually try to offer something in return like a story. Right now, we're raising for Special Olympics, and I would love some change.
Bouts: I'm not gonna lie, shit gets crazy around bout season. It's coming up here in about a month... and usually during bout weeks I get super stressed, then super drunk.
Fitness: Participating in a sport while not a traditionally 'fit' shape can be difficult at times. Any time I discuss diet I try to remember to put up a TW. I'm also lifting to build and tone muscle. I've had a past issue with ED, so my relationship with my body can be a little tenuous, but I can honestly thank derby for giving me the courage to go out in public in panties and not give a fuck what people think.
Also, I'll answer just about any question you have about roller derby, starting a league, etc, as long as it doesn't get into privacy issues with my league. :)
Part 3: Fandom Life
A) People of Interest
My best friends, aside frommajesdane and beverytender are probably prozacpark and Jenn (who is silly and doesn't have a DW account.
B) Places of Interest
Twitter, Fanfic, Tumblr (basically Rashida Jones 24-7), Art Tumblr, Fic Tumblr
C) Stuff of Interest
Any more my only fandom participation is fic writing. I used to at least have bouts of vidding or iconing, but I just don't have the time. (Plus, I can fic at work, and that's a huge bonus)
D) Fandoms
PARKS & RECREATION. I haven't had an OTP for like... fifteen years, so my relationship with Ann/Leslie is KIND OF REALLY INTENSE.
I am also currently watching The Good Wife, Fringe, Lost Girl (sorta), Once Upon a Time (though I'm constantly on the verge of quitting), Arrested Development (rewatch), Bomb Girls, Degrassi, Skins, Up All Night, Suburgatory
And here is my big ole list of fandoms and ships if you want the whole dish.
The Primer of
aphrodite_mine Part 1: "Real" Life
A) People of Interest:
My grandparents are: all dead. I didn't go to any of their funerals, because I was 1) two, 2/3) in school, and 4) I forget what excuse I used. They were okay people but I never really got to know them. My grandpa used to run American Greetings, and that's cool, right?
My parents are: divorced, and both remarried. My dad and his wife have a dog who hates me and the kind of life I want eventually, minus the horrible dog and the politics. My mom and her husband are... having troubles.
My siblings are: AMAZING. I'm the oldest, and there are three who come after me about two years apart. David works at a grocery store near my parents, is in Special Olympics, and has a total gross-out sense of humor. Stephen goes to college near me, is super popular, and has people skills up to here. Amanda is in her senior year of HS, works at Wal-mart, and is going to come to college near me in the fall.
My girlfriend is: ALSO AMAZING. She's
majesdane on here.My friends are: see Derby Life and Fandom Life. Sadly not kidding. EDIT: I feel terrible, because in the original draft I forgot two of my best friends Laura and Damaris. I spend every Sunday and Tuesday with them (and now Fridays, because Fringe!). They're my adopted family and I couldn't make it without them.
My roommate is: moving in soon! She's
beverytender on here.B) Topics:
Gay!: I'm super gay, and I've known it since I was in 6th or 7th grade, tried to hide it until 12th, and didn't come out to my parents until junior year of college. I mostly date long distance, which sucks, but try living in Southeast Missouri and finding someone who isn't 1) taken, 2) deeply closeted, 3) looking for threesomes, or 4) a creepy bar leech
My job: boring, but functional. I'm a receptionist for an office-supply company and the building we rent out. I fill out paper work, answer phones, and am "the face of the company." I have about eight bosses, and most if not all of them are super conservative deer hunters. (The deer hunting having little to do with the conservatism but a lot to do with short-cutting their characterization for this primer.)
Mental Illness: I was diagnosed with depression a while after my parents divorced, and in the past three years anxiety. My mom and sister have had serious depressive issues, and my brother has Asperger's (and probably a little bi-polar), so I'm in good company.
Physical Illness: I feel kind of like a privileged asshole putting this here because come on, but. For the sake of completeness. I was diagnosed with epilepsy in college (I had seizures for about two years before I was diagnosed) and I guess I still have the label though I've been seizure-free off medication for over a year now. I also have a weird eye-thing that's mostly fixed with glasses.
My cats: I almost put this under People of Interest, but. My boys are super awesome, even though Roy has chronic dead eyes and sometimes creeps me out. Roy is The Most Affectionate Ginger Ever and has recently dug a nest for himself in my boxspring. I also have a fish with no personality so she gets no category. Her name is Helena.
Location: As I mentioned, I live in Southeast Missouri, not quite in the bootheel and currently about 20 minutes from the Mississippi (though I used to live quite close). The area is very conservative, though there are some pockets of decency. My current city, Jackson, for example, is home to the hs team the Indians (which is especially classy when considering the name of the town.) And despite all of this, I like it here. A lot. It's mostly quiet, a pretty tight-knit community that gets inundated every fall-thru-spring with college students, and a liberal-ish copse around the university and down town. And we're getting a casino! Hah!
Activism: I'm a feminist, a continuing student of literature and media, learning every day just how deep my privilege lies. I've written a few pieces for Bitch Flicks, and for now that's about the extent of putting myself out there. I honestly wouldn't even know where to start around here.
Part 2: Derby Life
A) People of Interest:
Me: Bobbie Soxxx (see below) and I started our local league (Cape Girardeau Roller Girls) in February 2010. My derby name is Sylvia Smash (that FB profile is public, so feel free to add), and I've since stepped down from a lot of the admin duties but still run our website, web presence (cgrollergirls on Twitter and CGRG: Cape Girardeau Roller Girls on Facebook) and league forum. I'm primarily a pivot/blocker 1 but have been amping up my game and trying to train to jam and power block.
My wife: I use this shorthand almost always when talking about my best friend Julie (Bobbie Soxxx). We met only a few months before starting the league and now I can't really imagine life without her. About a year ago, she tore her ACL, got it replaced with cadaver parts, and is now building her way up to being badass again. (She can leg press 100 lbs on JUST the bad leg!) She's President and head of PR for the league and is a power house of getting shit done.
My sister-wives: Me-Ya Wham and The Woman 2 Blame are my sisterwives on the team (wife, if you didn't know, is basically derby shorthand for bff, and since I'm already "married", I now have sister-wives!). MeYa is our head of Sponsorship and Woman is on Merch committee. MeYa used to play semi-professional soccer, has TWO replaced knees, and is amazing. Woman is super sweet and quiet but always comes through in a pinch.
The Board: We're close. On bout weeks, we exchange upwards of 80 emails a day, and normally no fewer than 5. A DAY. So yeah, not only do we practice and work out all the time, we donate a LOT of free time to keeping this league going. Which hasn't been (and isn't) always easy. Between dealing with the area, money issues, in-fighting, and countless other week-to-week issues... I think we've all been at our wits end at least once.
B) Topics
Fundraising: I may occasionally talk here about raising money for charity or for the league. I usually try to offer something in return like a story. Right now, we're raising for Special Olympics, and I would love some change.
Bouts: I'm not gonna lie, shit gets crazy around bout season. It's coming up here in about a month... and usually during bout weeks I get super stressed, then super drunk.
Fitness: Participating in a sport while not a traditionally 'fit' shape can be difficult at times. Any time I discuss diet I try to remember to put up a TW. I'm also lifting to build and tone muscle. I've had a past issue with ED, so my relationship with my body can be a little tenuous, but I can honestly thank derby for giving me the courage to go out in public in panties and not give a fuck what people think.
Also, I'll answer just about any question you have about roller derby, starting a league, etc, as long as it doesn't get into privacy issues with my league. :)
Part 3: Fandom Life
A) People of Interest
My best friends, aside from
majesdane and beverytender are probably prozacpark and Jenn (who is silly and doesn't have a DW account.B) Places of Interest
Twitter, Fanfic, Tumblr (basically Rashida Jones 24-7), Art Tumblr, Fic Tumblr
C) Stuff of Interest
Any more my only fandom participation is fic writing. I used to at least have bouts of vidding or iconing, but I just don't have the time. (Plus, I can fic at work, and that's a huge bonus)
D) Fandoms
PARKS & RECREATION. I haven't had an OTP for like... fifteen years, so my relationship with Ann/Leslie is KIND OF REALLY INTENSE.
I am also currently watching The Good Wife, Fringe, Lost Girl (sorta), Once Upon a Time (though I'm constantly on the verge of quitting), Arrested Development (rewatch), Bomb Girls, Degrassi, Skins, Up All Night, Suburgatory
And here is my big ole list of fandoms and ships if you want the whole dish.
no subject
I hadn't picked up on the fact that you and B are together. Congrats. That's wonderful :)
Just seen the first season of Parks and Recreation and liked it rather a lot. I'm told season 1 is a bit shaky and that it picks up a lot with season 2, so I'm looking forward to that!
no subject
I guess we're not too obvious about it unless you track our interactions on twitter, lol. We tend to run in (mostly) different fandom circles so we don't interact much around LJ/DW.
Oh, yes. Every episode gets better, honestly.